Hyderabad Fire Tragedy Near Charminar Claims 17 Lives, Including 8 Children

Seventeen people, including eight children, lost their lives in a devastating fire near Charminar in Hyderabad in the early hours of Sunday. The fire, believed to have been caused by a short circuit, broke out in a three-storey building housing a jewellery store in the Gulzar House area. According to officials, all the victims died of asphyxiation, with a few sustaining burn injuries.

Among the deceased were elderly individuals and young children, including infants as young as one year old. The names of the victims include Prahlad (70), Munni (70), Rajendar Modi (65), and several children aged between 1 and 7 years.

The fire is believed to have started on the ground floor and quickly spread upward. A senior fire official confirmed that the first alert was received at 6:17 am, and fire tenders arrived within 15 minutes. Despite prompt response, the thick smoke and rapid spread of the flames left little time for escape.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the tragedy, announcing ex-gratia compensation of ₹2 lakh each for the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured from the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund. “Deeply anguished by the loss of lives... Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones,” he posted on X.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy also expressed sorrow and directed officials to provide the best possible treatment for the injured and to intensify rescue operations. He assured the affected families of full support from the state government.

BRS leader K.T. Rama Rao and BJP state president G. Kishan Reddy also reacted, with Reddy alleging delays in emergency response. However, officials defended their timely arrival and efforts to contain the fire. An investigation is underway.